Young Sables on a mission

the_beastHARARE - Zimbabwe Under-20 rugby team head coach, Brighton Chivandire, is confident his charges are capable of pulling some surprises in a tough Junior World Trophy, which roars into life today. (Pictured: The Beast, now playing for South Africa is a product of Zimbabwes rugby junior developmen

We are aiming for a top four finish, which means we need to win a minimum of four games, was Chivandires vision before he left the country with his troops last Thursday.

Zimbabwe qualified to represent the continent in the international tournament when they emerged the champions of the continental tournament held in Kenya, last year. The competition in Russia is however a lower division of the global showpiece with the Division A, the highest level of junior rugby competition, yet to see African giants, South Africa, battling it out for honours with other international heavyweights in Argentina, next month.

The Young Sables, as they are affectionately known, have a big challenge of winning against Canada, Japan and the hosts to launch a positive campaign for promotion into Division A.

Although promotion seems a mission impossible, Chivandire believes the world has all the reasons to expect a good performance from Zimbabwe junior rugby side as the fruits of the countrys past junior development programmes bloom in talented international players such as Tonderai Chavhanga and Tendai Beast Mtawarira.

Mtawarira is now playing for South Africa.

Yes it is possible (promotion), we have a very talented side that is capable of winning matches. All our matches are a challenge especially the first one against Canada because we will be trying to get used to the conditions in Russia and our opponents will start the match with a psychological advantage after beating us in the last competition but we all know it is only psychological, Chivandire told ***The Zimbabwean***.

We dont know anything about our opponents because in junior competitions countries keep changing teams and so you can never know how each of them will perform. We dont know much about them as much as they dont know anything about us.

Team: Brian Makamure (Old Hararians) Simbarashe Musarurwa (Busters), Dimitrios Zaverdinos (Old Georgians) Tatenda Karuru (Old Hararians) Takudzwa Mandiwanza (Old Hararians), Schalk Ferreira (Western Province Academy), Sasha Holloway (Sharks Academy), Takudzwa Jaravaza (Old Hararians), Marco Mama, David Watson (Pretoria University), Lucas Wollmann (Pretoria University), Brendon Chapman (Pretoria University), Graeme Lawler (Hartpury College), Marco Mama (Bristol Rugby), Biselele Tshamala (Busters) Charles Jiji (Old Hararians), Graham Kaulback (Pretoria University) (captain), Kyle Mullen (Sharks Academy), Jonathan McWade (Pretoria University), Farai Mupasiri (Old Hararians), David Fussell (Pretoria University), Matthew Swales (Pretoria University), Tafadzwa Chitokwindo (Old Hararians), Brian Maziva (Old Hararians), Dante Mama (Worcester Warriors), Danny Robertson (Old Georgians). Head Coach: Brighton Chivandire, Assistant Coach: Godwin Murambiwa, Assistant Coach: John Falkenberg.

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